Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Increased motorcycle crashes
NEW BERLIN – Summer means more motorcycles are on the road and unfortunately, this summer, it also means an increase in motorcycle crashes. There have been a series of crashes recently, with five people killed on area roads since June 1st and several others seriously injured. Riding a motorcycle is a fun pastime for many and an enjoyable way to spend time outdoors. However, Danielle Klinger of PennDOT’s safety administration says motorists need to pay better attention to motorcyclists. She says people should think of a motorcycle as a car and respect it the same way. Also don’t follow too closely and give a motorcycle space.
Since the beginning of June, several people have been killed in motorcycle crashes including Raymond Kressler in Columbia County, Edward Eichner Jr. of Sunbury, killed in a Sullivan County crash, Brett Paulhamus of Milton and Beverly Latshaw of Montgomery County, who was killed in a crash near Elysburg.
Others have been seriously injured, including Clinton Mettler of Watsontown, who was seriously injured in a crash in Lewisburg on June 29th. The American Legion Riders will be holding a benefit ride for Mettler, who is a Purple Heart recipient for injuries he sustained while serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Mettler was paralyzed in the motorcycle crash and is being treated at a rehabilitation center in Philadelphia. Marty Russell, commander of the New Berlin American Legion, says the benefit ride is August 14th starting at 9 a.m. in New Berlin. Donations are still being collected to help with Mettler’s medical expenses and equipment needed.
Other people injured in motorcycle crashes this summer include Shawn Richendrfer of Columbia County who was critically injured and Thomas Bryner of Laurelton, who was injured in a McAlisterville crash on June 20th. (Ali Stevens)
Man admits to setting fire
NORTHUMBERLAND – A Northumberland man has admitted to police that he set fire to his brother’s garage in Point Township on Sunday morning. Point Township police say Timmy Young admitted to setting fire to a large rag on a work bench inside the garage at 279 14th Street. The fire destroyed the garage and two vehicles inside, with damages estimated at more than $25,000. Young told police he was drinking in Freeburg before he set the fire.
Young and his wife were apparently living with his brother, Wells Young, at the home on 14th Street. Police say Timmy Young woke his wife to tell her the garage was on fire. Police say they were immediately suspicious of Timmy Young and Fire Marshal Norman Fedder found a spot in the garage where it appeared accelerants were used to start the fire.
Young was sent to the Northumberland County Prison on $25,000 bail. He is charged with two counts of arson, causing a catastrophe and criminal mischief. (Ali Stevens)
Restoration work continues on Northumberland log house
NORTHUMBERLAND -- Restoration work continues on a log house in Northumberland. The 1700-era home now sits on the property owned by Gretchen and Mark Walberg of Sunbury. The house was being torn down two years ago on Queen Street when Gretchen noticed it. She says they didn't want the piece of history to be destroyed.
Frank Stroik is the restoration carpenter working on the project and estimates the home to have been built in 1772, and attributes that to looking at the handmade nails used and other clues in the original framework. Though he isn't sure who lived in the home, Stroik says it is built as a more refined townhouse for the time, most likely owned by a businessman. The home was originally a one-and-a-half story, with what looks like a winding stairway and large cooking fireplace. Stroik says his job is to preserve the house as an architectural artifact of the era.
The work is expected to take a few more months, and those interested in the restoration process are welcome to visit the site on King Street during construction. Pictures are also available online at www.sunburypa.com.
Charges filed after the Selinsgrove area prom night crash two months ago
SELINSGROVE -- The Seth Lauver and Alex Mullen accident is back in the news...State troopers have filed charges against the man whose car was parked on the road causing that accident. Troopers told us Monday 22-year-old Jaron Pontius of Millerstown is charged with an insurance violation, illegally parking a vehicle on the road and recklessly endangering another person.
He was parked on the road, helping a motorist change a tire, when the car of Seth Lauver ran into it. The crash has prompted a massive community response as thousands of dollars has been raised to help the Lauver and Mullen families with medical expenses. Lauver is now recovering at home and Mullen remains in a Philadelphia rehab hospital. Both are 17-years-old.
No injuries in a helicopter crash near Watsontown
WATSONTOWN – A helicopter contracted by the state DEP hit PPL power lines and crashed along the Susquehanna River Monday morning. 64-year-old Gerald Racey, of Virginia, was the pilot and emerged uninjured from the 8:00 a.m. wreck.
Racey is employed by Helicopter Applicators Inc. of Gettysburg and Woodstock, Virginia and was spraying for black flies at the time. PPL spokesman Don Stringfellow says more than 750 customers were without power, some for as long as two-and-a-half hours. Stringfellow stresses that the chopper was not on PPL business, though the utility sometimes uses them.
Union County 9-1-1 sent volunteers from White Deer Township, a boat crew the Milton fire department, the Warrior Run fire department and the Union County Emergency Squad. Volunteer crews remained on the scene for several hours.
Death investigation in Watsontown
WATSONTOWN -- A death investigation is ongoing in Watsontown. Police confirm an autopsy was performed Monday on 81-year-old William Hill, but there is no additional information. Police do say the death investigation is ongoing, following possible suspicious surroundings when they found Hill in his Vincent Avenue residence.
Hill was found Saturday night after police received calls from neighbors about the wellbeing of the man. District Judge John Gembic issued a search warrant, Pennsylvania State Police collected evidence and the office of District Attorney Toni Rosini is also part of the investigation.
Judge remembered by colleagues
SUNBURY -- Sunbury attorney John Carpenter calls Judge Samuel Ranck a "lawyer's judge." Ranck died Sunday at the age of 82. Carpenter says one the bench, Ranck was always in control of his courtroom and always courteous to lawyers, juries and litigants. Carpenter says the judge presided with dignity, and he was respected by all of his colleagues.
When we contacted Carpenter, he reflected on Ranck's love of his community and interest in the Central Susquehanna Valley. Ranck, who lived in Milton, served for 20 years on the bench as an elected judge, and over a dozen years as a senior judge. Funeral announcements are expected soon.
Some local Ugandan mission group members to return home this week
UNDATED – Some local members of a mission group, who were in Uganda when two bombs struck, are on their way home. According to the group’s website, Kris Sledge of Selinsgrove, as well as Pam and Thomas Kramer of Winfield, are making their way back to the U.S. Monday. The three were injured in a July 11th bombing at a Kampala restaurant. All three were treated for injuries at a hospital in Africa.
Three group members remain over there, including Lori Ssebulime, who sustained minor injuries and plans to fly back this week, Joanne Kerstetter of Selinsgrove who also hopes to return this week, but will need more medical attention, and Joanne's granddaughter Emily Kerstetter of Maryland, who is undergoing surgeries at an African hospital.
Various individuals are collecting funds to pay for the mission group's return to the U.S. Donations can be sent to Christ Community United Methodist Church on Park Road in Selinsgrove. You can find out more information on our website at www.wkok.com. (Ali Stevens)
Search for treasurer in Northumberland County continues
SUNBURY -- The search for a treasurer in Northumberland County is underway following the resignation of Ronald Chamberlain. Commissioner Kurt Masser says the Republican Party in the county has been searching for someone to take over the position. Once they find someone, they will recommend them to the state Senate.
The Senate will have to approve the recommendation, and then Governor Ed Rendell will make the appointment for the position. Chamberlain, who cited ongoing health problems as his reason for resigning, had a term that ran through 2011, so a new appointee would serve for that time until the term expires. Chamberlain's resignation takes effect July 30th. (Sara Bartlett)
Betty Apple remembered as a lover of life and community
SUNBURY -- Friends are remembering Betty Apple, who passed away Sunday, as a lover of life and her community. We contacted Jean Schreffler of Sunbury, who has been friends with Apple since the age of 12. Schreffler says she has many great childhood memories with Apple from being in homeroom together, to sharing library books, to taking walks in Sunbury.
Schreffler says as adults, the two, along with their husbands and children, would go on vacations together, and were very involved in the community. She says Apple was very active at the Zion Lutheran Church in Sunbury, and a well-known contributor to Susquehanna University with her husband John who was on the board of trustees. Apple died at Nottingham Village. She was 80. Funeral arrangements will be announced soon. (Sara Bartlett)
Former coach and principal remembered
NORTHUMBERLAND -- A colleague and friend of Trevor Lewis is remembering him as a good Christian person and a good family man." Lewis died Friday at Geisinger Medical Center at the age of 86. We contacted John Gotaskie, who served as the principal of CW Rice Middle School when Lewis was the principal at Sunbury Middle School.
Gotaskie declined to be interviewed on tape, said, "A person like Trevor is just a great person to work with. You could trust him and he had a great sense of humor." Gotaskie went on to say that Lewis was a terrific coach who was liked by his players and his colleagues. He said Lewis, "Left an impact and will be missed by the community."
Lewis coached football and basketball at the high school level, and also was at tennis coach at Bucknell University. He was a 1941 graduate of Northumberland High School, a 1956 graduate of Bloomsburg State Teachers College and received a doctorate from Bucknell University in 1974. A funeral is planned for Tuesday at 11:00 a.m. at St. Johns United Methodist Church in Sunbury.
Ronald McDonald House to receive a substantial grant for guest room renovations
DANVILLE – The Danville Ronald McDonald House will receive a $30,000 grant for their ongoing project of renovating guest rooms at the facility. Several northeastern Pennsylvania owners and operators of businesses contributed to the grant.
The local McDonald’s restaurants, owned by Tom and Jason Rippon, donated $5,000. The funds will be used to make various improvements to the Danville Ronald McDonald House’s 17 guest rooms and apartments. The house was last renovated in 2002. (Ali Stevens)
Woman remains in serious condition following a Friday night crash in Danville
DANVILLE – A Washingtonville woman remains hospitalized in following a crash on Route 54 at Valley Road in Danville Friday night. State police say 22-year-old Tanya Anspach was traveling west on Route 54, when another vehicle pulled from a stop sign and in front of her vehicle.
Anspach sustained major injuries in the crash and was taken to Geisinger around 10:20 p.m. on Friday, where she remains in serious condition. The driver of the other vehicle, 80-year-old John Reilly of Danville sustained minor injuries. (Ali Stevens)
The big Union County book sale is this week
LEWISBURG – The big Union County library book sale is this week in Lewisburg. Board member Sally Kobus, who heads up the book sale committee, says this event has become extremely popular amongst readers in the valley. This year there are 40,000 books on sale. Last year, $26,000 in sales went to benefit the Union County libraries.
The sale has become so popular, that customers line up early Wednesday to be the first in the door. The sale is Wednesday through Saturday starting at 9 a.m. each day. The sale takes place at Faith Lutheran Church across Route 45 from Reitz Boulevard, where the Union County library is located.
Latest Pennsylvania news, business and entertainment
DUNCANNON, Pa. (AP) - A former central Pennsylvania police officer already serving time for sex crimes has been ordered to stand trial on charges he repeatedly molested a teenager. Former Marysville police Officer Robert Pavlovich, Jr., was ordered Monday to stand trial on charges including aggravated indecent assault and victim intimidation. Pavlovich, 42, was convicted last year of molesting or propositioning girls and women while on duty. He was sentenced to at least 10 years in prison. At Monday's preliminary hearing, the alleged victim, now 23, testified she had at least 30 encounters with Pavlovich between 2001 and 2004. She says last year he asked her to lie for him about the allegations by other women. Pavlovich's attorney declined comment following the hearing.
PITTSBURGH (AP) - A preliminary hearing is entering its second day in Pittsburgh to determine if state Sen. Jane Orie and her sister will stand trial on charges they conspired to use the senator's paid legislative staff to do political campaign work. Orie's chief of staff Jamie Pavlot is expected to testify under a grant of immunity about campaign work allegedly done in Orie's office to benefit the senator and her sister, Supreme Court Justice Joan Orie Melvin. The Ories have denied wrongdoing. Melvin isn't charged, but a third Orie sister who worked as Melvin's aide is. Janine Orie is accused of conspiring with the senator to coordinate work on Melvin's unsuccessful 2003 campaign for a Supreme Court seat, and the election she won last year. It's unclear whether the hearing will wrap up Tuesday or continue until Wednesday.
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - Officials in New York and Pennsylvania plan to sue a power plant they say violates federal environmental regulations, creating a major source of air and water pollution. New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo says the action targets the Homer City Station, a plant about 50 miles east of Pittsburgh. He says the current and former owners failed to install pollution controls required by the federal Clean Air Act after modifications during the 1980s and 1990s increased emissions of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide and soot. A call to the plant's owner, a group of eight limited liability corporations, was not immediately returned. Cuomo says Tuesday the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection will join the action by his office. The law requires 60 days notice before a suit is filed.
PITTSBURGH (AP) - A search warrant unsealed during a hearing on ethics charges shows investigators believe state Sen. Jane Orie tried to derail a grand jury investigation by threatening a public relations attack against the district attorney leading it. Orie and her sister, Janine, are charged with conspiring to use Orie's paid staff to do campaign work for the senator and a third sister, state Supreme Court Justice Joan Orie Melvin. Janine is on paid suspension as the justice's aide. Allegheny County investigators unsealed 18 search warrants yesterday during the first day of a preliminary hearing on the charges, including one for an e-mail account of a labor leader. The affidavit says the labor leader warned District Attorney Stephen Zappala Jr. that the Ories would publicly accuse the DA of bringing the charges for political reasons. The Ories have done just that, and have continued to deny any wrongdoing.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - The candidates running for U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania are sparring over earmarks and unemployment benefits. Republican Pat Toomey is calling on Democrat Joe Sestak to return more than $100,000 in campaign donations from people who work for companies that received federal earmarks that he steered. Sestak says he routinely returns money from the senior officers of those companies, but it's hard to track donations from lower-level employees. Sestak also says he's sponsored legislation to end earmarks, but won't stop advocating for his district while earmarks still exist. Meanwhile, Sestak says he supports an emergency extension of federal unemployment benefits, even if Congress can't find the $30 billion-plus to pay for it. Toomey says he believes spending cuts first should offset any extension.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Gov. Ed Rendell says he supports increasing transportation fees and the state gasoline tax to raise money for highway, bridge and mass-transit projects. At a Capitol news conference yesterday, Rendell renewed his plea for the Legislature to reconvene this summer to approve funding to make up $472 million a year that disappeared when the federal government refused to approve tollbooths along Interstate 80. Rendell says he would support increasing all transportation fees - such as driver's licenses and vehicle registrations - by the rate of inflation since they were last increased. He says those proposals and an increase of about three pennies a gallon in the gasoline tax would generate the needed money. Rendell says he'll ask legislative leaders to reconvene Aug. 23 - several weeks earlier than scheduled.
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) - A Penn State study says Pennsylvania may be more susceptible than other states to losing jobs overseas. The study says one-fourth of Pennsylvanians working in the service industry are vulnerable to having their jobs shipped abroad, and that Pennsylvania workers are more likely to hold "offshorable" jobs than the national average. Service jobs most susceptible to being sent overseas are those considered routine, and which do not require face-to-face contact or regional knowledge. They include call center employees, payroll and radiology. The study cited lower wages and the ability to avoid employee benefits among reasons to ship jobs overseas. Author David Passmore says such cost savings may be especially appealing to employers in a recession.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Updates on the latest in business:
Dow: 10,224.89, up 70.46
S&P 500: 1,082.75, up 11.50
NASDAQ: 2,217.42, up 19.19
NEW YORK (AP) - Stocks have been fluctuating on Wall Street, as traders consider a wealth of mixed news on corporate earnings. The Dow turned positive in mid-afternoon after being down as much as 140 points in morning trading. Volume has been extremely light, helping to exaggerate price moves.
NEW ORLEANS (AP) - A worker on BP's blown-out oil well has told investigators he reported a leak of hydraulic fluid from a critical safety device weeks before the April 20 explosion. Government investigators are trying to determine whether BP missed the leak in the blowout preventer, which could have averted the explosion that killed 11 workers and sent millions of gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico.
NEW YORK (AP) - BP says it plans to sell company assets in Vietnam and Pakistan to help pay for the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. A spokesman for the British oil giant told The Associated Press that proceeds from the sale of various facilities will go to a $20 billion Gulf spill relief fund.
WASHINGTON (AP) - A Food and Drug Administration panel has determined that the risks and side effects of the Roche breast cancer drug Avastin outweigh its benefits when used alongside a chemotherapy drug. The FDA panel will vote later today on whether Avastin's approval for breast cancer should be withdrawn.
NEW YORK (AP) - U.S. airlines' work forces shrank by 2.7 percent in May from a year earlier. The government says scheduled passenger airlines employed 377,000 workers in May -- 10,500 fewer than a year ago. It's the 23rd straight month U.S. airline employment has declined as airlines lay off workers and shift jobs outside the country.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - These Pennsylvania lotteries were drawn Tuesday:
Mega Millions
Estimated jackpot: $12 million
Midday Big 4
8-5-5-4
Midday Number
5-6-6
Midday Quinto
4-8-2-7-5
Powerball
Estimated jackpot: $37 million
Treasure Hunt
04-12-13-21-25
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Lohan in jail
LYNWOOD, Calif. (AP) -- Lindsay Lohan has begun her new life as a prison inmate. She was handcuffed and taken to jail as her mother and father watched and her younger sister Ali wiped away tears. Lohan will spend her time in isolation for her own protection. Her attorney says Lohan is doing as well as can be expected. Shawn Chapman Holley says Lohan is "scared as anyone would be, but resolute." It's unlikely Lohan will serve her entire 90-day sentence. More likely a quarter of the time or less. Lohan slipped in one more tweet before losing her cellphone privileges. Part of her post read simply "eeeks."
Glenn Beck: Doctor says eye disease could blind me
NEW YORK (AP) - Fox News Channel's Glenn Beck says he's been diagnosed with an eye disease that could eventually blind him. The conservative commentator told an audience attending his "American Revival" tour over the weekend in Salt Lake City that a doctor told him he has the degenerative disease macular dystrophy. Beck says he went to a doctor for testing because he had trouble focusing with his eyes. "He said, 'You have macular dystrophy. ... You could go blind in the next year. Or, you might not." Beck said he replied: "Did you just charge me a thousand dollars for knowing what I knew my whole life?" The disease generally makes itself known by a decrease in vision in 20- to 40-year-olds. Beck is 46. The WebMD website says eyesight deteriorates as the disease progresses.
Schwarzenegger names Geena Davis to Calif. panel
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has appointed actress Geena Davis to a California commission established to promote women's equality. Schwarzenegger on Tuesday named the 54-year-old actress to the Commission on the Status of Women. The nonpartisan panel advocates for women and girls in areas such as education and access to health care. Davis, a Democrat, has worked off screen to reduce gender stereotyping. She is the founder of the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in the Media and is a partner with United Nations Development Fund for Women. She won an Oscar in 1989 for her supporting role in "The Accidental Tourist" and was nominated for best actress in 1992 for "Thelma and Louise." The appointment lasts four years and requires Senate confirmation. The 17 commissioners receive a $100 per diem.
Stores push summertime 'Christmas' sales
NEW YORK (AP) - Santa in the summer? Retailers are pumping still more energy this year into trying to get shoppers to loosen their purse strings early for Christmas with sparkly ornaments, holiday music and special prices. In July. Target Corp. is entering the game for the first time, with a one-day online sale starting Friday morning on 500 items from clothing to Blu-ray disc players that's modeled after sales typically held Thanksgiving weekend. And Sears and Toys R Us are dramatically promoting "Christmas in July" online based on the success they saw in last year's efforts. Some recession-weary shoppers have been glad to spread out the cost of the holidays, but others may be turned off. And stores are divided as well.
Indonesian Muslims facing Africa during prayers
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) - Muslims in Indonesia have been facing Africa -- not Mecca -- while praying. Indonesia's highest Islamic body has acknowledged that it made a mistake when issuing an edict in March saying the holy city in Saudi Arabia was to the country's west. It has since asked followers to shift direction slightly northward during their daily prayers. A prominent cleric of the Indonesian Ulema Council says Indonesians need not worry, though. He says the miscalculation did not affect God's ability to hear their prayers. Indonesia is a secular nation of 237 million people, 90 percent of whom are Muslim. The influential Ulema Council often issues fatwas, or edicts, including controversial rulings against smoking and yoga. Many devoted Muslims follow such decrees, because ignoring them is considered a sin.
Kathy Griffin to get Pap smear on TV
PASADENA, Calif. (AP) - Most women have their annual pap smears in the doctor's office. But, this year, Kathy Griffin wanted to be different. She did it poolside at a trendy hotel in a bikini. Griffin says Katie Couric, who got her colonoscopy on the “Today” show in 2000, inspired her. So, Griffin says she contacted the "Today" show and told them she would give them "the exclusive of the first live televised pap smear to promote women's health." But, she says "the answer was a firm no, which is stronger than a pass." So, Griffin gave the video exclusive to her own show: "My Life on the D-List," where it'll air tonight. She says you really can't see the procedure. She says "It's like an episode of 'Cops' where the criminal doesn't sign the release."
Missing rubber ducks
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (AP) - A child advocacy agency is hoping to get all its ducks in a row after more than 1,000 plastic entrants in a charity duck race floated to freedom in northeast Indiana. Stop Child Abuse & Neglect says 17,000 plastic ducks were dropped into the St. Joseph River in Fort Wayne during the June 19 fundraiser but that only 15,000 were retrieved that day. Spokeswoman Jennifer Boen says about 1,000 of the rogue ducks have since been recovered, and that some of the others have been spotted as far away as Ohio. The group says it is working with the Fort Wayne Water Department to catch the remaining ducks and that it wouldn't do anything to jeopardize the beauty of the river.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)